Page 14 of Fake It Till We Fall
“Thank you, Ollie,” I said. “I was hoping we could talk about the reports in a bit more detail, as well as the future of the store and where you?—”
“Can’t right now,” he interrupted. “I’m just headed out of town. But I’ll be back next week. We’ll talk then.”
“Right. It’s just that I wanted to talk to you about?—”
“Gotta run, Grayson.” And just like that, the line went dead.
I stared at the phone for a moment before sliding it back into my pocket with a shake of my head. That had been my opening, and he’d shut it down before I could even get the words out. But I knew Ollie well enough to know that he wanted the best for the store. Once I got the chance to discuss my plan with him, he’d see it was the right thing.
He’d never asked me for the types of detailed reports I’d run the night before. And that could only mean one thing…he was getting ready to sell it. And after seeing the numbers in black and white for myself, I planned to be the buyer.
It was the first time I’d ever let myself believe it could happen. But it finally seemed like the right time.
“Hey, Grayson?” Ben’s voice called from the front of the store. “You off the phone?”
The problems never ended. With a shake of my head, I headed to the front of the store, and when I saw who was waiting for me, immediately wished I hadn’t.
“Morning, Tilley.” I pasted a smile on my face.
She stood just inside the door, bundled as always in her red scarf and matching lipstick, her ever-present clipboard tucked under her arm.
“Well, if it isn’t the busiest person in Trickle Creek.” Her voice carried a mix of cheer and purpose that usually meant she was about to add something else to my already way too long to-do list.
“I don’t know about that,” I told her. “But I do have a few things on the go. What can I help you with today? All the lights are up and ready. The tree is wired and ready to flip the switch. Unless you ordered some last-minute?—”
“Oh no.” She cut me off. “It’s nothing urgent. I was just passing by and I thought I’d pop in to say hi.”
I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head, but I didn’t have to wait long for the real reason Tilley had stopped by.
“I heard you were over at Willa’s Whisk yesterday.”
Ben tried and failed to swallow his chuckle from his position behind the desk.
I worked hard to keep my expression neutral. “Harper needed a hand with the decorations.”
“I heard.” Tilley’s smile curved up in that knowing way that made me wish I were buried in inventory at the moment. “Well, I’m sure she appreciated the help. And I must say, Grayson, it’s nice to see the two of you together again.”
“We’re not?—”
“People like seeing familiar faces together again this time of year,” Tilley continued, as if I hadn’t spoken at all. “It gives them hope.”
Hope?
“Especially Willa,” Tilley continued. “I’m sure it does her old heart good to see her granddaughter happy again.”
My head spun.Happy? Again?
It had only been a ten-minute interaction. I was sure I wasn’t responsible for any strong emotions of any kind in such a short time.
Before I could respond, she patted my arms like she’d just passed on a vital community update, turned and headed back out into the cold.
I waited a beat after she left before shaking my head and turning around. A smirk tugged at Ben’s lips.
“Don’t start.” I held up a finger. “If you need me, I’ll be finishing up with those drill bits.” I turned to go. “Oh, and Ben? Don’t need me.”
Harper
“We need to talk, Harper.”
